Soap and soap-holder



NLITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. HOWE, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

SOAP AND SOAP-HOLDER,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters patent No. 624,809, dated May 9, 1899.

Application filed November 2, 1896. Serial l lo. 610,832. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES WEsLEY- HOWE, of W'altham, in the county of MiddleseX and State of l\Iassachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvemen ts in Soap- I-Iolders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to soap made in cakes and means for holding it either in the process of its manufacture or in its use and for preserving it from waste. 1

In the manufacture of soap it is the practice to lay the cakes or bars upon a flat surface for a time sufficient to permit of the evaporation of the moisture and liquid therein. This exposes only a portion of the surface of the soap to the atmosphere, so that that part of the soap which is resting on the flat surface remains in a relatively soft and plastic condition and is worn away rapidly when it is used. Again, in using the soap for laundry and toilet purposes it is generally the practice to employ a soap-dish having a continuous or imperforate support upon which the cake or bar is placed; but when the soap is softened by contact with the water it is usually placed in a dripping condition upon the support, so that when it dries it adheres 'to the latter, and upon removing it again for use a large amount of the soap is left sticking to the support, and, moreover, a portionof the soap is exposed to the atmosphere and is hardened, while the under side of the cake or bar which is in contact with or adjacent to the support in the soap-dish remains in a softened condition, so that when the soap is again used it dissolves too readily and is wasted.

Hence the object of this invention is to prevent the'soap from being wasted and to provide a means for preserving itand for subj ecting every portion of its surface to a hardening process after it is used.

To these ends my invention consists of a body of soap of any desirable shape having an internal recess the walls of which are coated with a relatively hard substance,whereby the body may be placed upon a projection out of contact with any other surface.

,It likewise consists of a holder or support for a body of soap which has a recess, as described, said holder or support being formed of two members, one of which is placed in the A as the case may be, wherever they occur.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a cake of soap and a holder therefor embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the cake of soap shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a cake embodying my invention and a holder therefor. Fig. 4 shows a cake of soap similar to that shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bushing'which is inserted in the recess formed in the body of soap.

a-represents a cake of soap having a recess 1) formed in one of its sides, into which recess is forced a bushing c of relatively hard material-that is, material harder than ordinary soap. Any suitable material may be employed, such as wood or metal. The bushing is here shown as having a conical end and a flange d. The flange is flush with the surface of the soap, so as not to project beyond the same. The bushing is shorter than the thickness of the cake, so that itcan be pushed into the cake from time to time as the surface of the cake wears away. The soap is placed upon apin or rod 6, projecting above a central boss 6 in a dish f, having circumferential walls f forminga drip-receptacle. The upper end of the pin or rod projects into the bushing and holds the soap out of contact with the dish.

The bushing may be inserted in one of the ends of the cake of soap, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in which case the pin or rod e may be mounted in a hanger g, supported in any suitable way. It is not necessary that the recess should be first formed in the soap before the bushingis inserted, as the latterqmay be forced into the body of soap, thus forming A its own recess.

The cup or socket may be formed of any relatively hard substance that may prove desirable, and the rod or point to extend into the socket may likewise be formed of any suitable material. g

From the foregoing it will be observed that I have provided a body of soap having an internal recess and have also provided a support for the soap consisting of a socket or member to be formed or placed in the soap and a member to enter the socket and so prevent the soap from coming into contact with any surface. Thus the entire surface of the soap is exposed to the atmosphere, whereby the moisture is evaporated and the soap hardened to such an extent that its life is greatly prolonged.

To a'll intents and purposes the bushing becomes an integral part of the soap as well as a sleeve or bearing, and it coacts with a member which is exterior to the soap and on which the soap may be removably placed.

My invention may be embodied in a cake of soap having a socket formed by making a recess or cavity in the body of the cake without a lining or bushing of harder material. I prefer to employ a relatively hard lining or bushing, however, for obvious reasons.

I claim- 1. As an article of manufacture, a cake of soap having a socket or bushing of harder mawardly therefrom and adapted to engage and support a recessed cake of soap.

4. A soap-holder comprising a single up-,

wardly-projecting rod or pin surrounded by a drip-receptacle, combined with a cake of soap having a recess formed to engage said rod or pin.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 28th day of October, A. D. 1896.

CHARLES W. HOWE. Witnesses:

A. D. HARRISON, C. F. BROWN. 

